Going to 4 blade??

[bbfrs1]

I have a 90 Bayliner 1800 BR w/ a 85 115hp Johnson. Current prop now is a Michigan Wheel 13x17. I was a running a 13.75x15 Hustler. I loved the prop, but a submerged log took its life at an early age. So now I believe I want to go to a 4 blade. I would like to have a little more hole shot. With the hustler I ran about 34 mph at 5600 rpm w/ a medium load. The setup was perfect for me, however the prop is no longer available at Iboats. The prop I was looking at is the Solas 4 blade. 13x15 or the 13x13. I just dont know which pitch I should use. Would the 13p be to low, or would it put my rpms about the same as the hustler?

 

[Philster]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch.

E.g., if a 21p 3-blader lands in the max RPM range, a 20p 4-blader is the substitute.

 

[bbfrs1]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Yea for me its either a 15 or a 13p. So do you think the 13" would be to low. I would probably lose some top end to I'm sure.

 

[bunker108]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

We are in a very similar boat, well not really, but really close. I have an 18' Starcraft SS with a 115 Mercury OB and too was running a 15p at around 30mph at 6000rpms. I went to a 17p and couldn't spin it so I went back to my old 15p. I had never had a problem until this weekend pulling tubes fully loaded all weekend. Even the 15 was struggling to get out of the whole when fully loaded. So I just ordered a 13p 4 blade to improve my tube and wake boarding abilities. I think that the real problem might be the my old Merc is getting tired. I will let you know how the new prop does this weekend.

 

[Philster]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch.

E.g., if a 21p 3-blader lands in the max RPM range, a 20p 4-blader is the substitute.

Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch
Adding a blade = 1 drop in pitch

I'm recalling a horse and water story.....LOL

 

[bbfrs1]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Hey Philster, What do I do? Like I said earlier, there is no 14p prop. That is why I was wondering about a 13p, because that would be a 2" drop. So I thought that would put me at about 5800, probably too high of rpm. So any helpful input would be appreciated. Go ahead and repeat it numerous times if that is the only way you know how to communicate w/ people.

 

[Philster]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Short answer: Solas 4 blade. 13x13.

 

[bbfrs1]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Short answer: Solas 4 blade. 13x13.

That's what I was leaning to anyway. So that is what I will do. Thanks for your help.

 

[Philster]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Sorry for being brief. You have RPMs to spare and it should work out pretty well -- putting you into upper RPM range but getting some bang for the buck with 4 blades.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Keep in mind that if you're looking to really fine tune the prop you can get a 4 blade 15p and take it to a prop shop for adjustment to 14p. It'd probably cost about $50 for the adjustment.

 

[bbfrs1]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Keep in mind that if you're looking to really fine tune the prop you can get a 4 blade 15p and take it to a prop shop for adjustment to 14p. It'd probably cost about $50 for the adjustment.

Ok, I will keep that in mind. I ordered a 13p today. I will try it out and go from there. I'm in Idaho and I don't know of any prop shops in the area. The only one went out of business awhile ago. Thanks

 

[bbfrs1]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

I have ran the 13x13 4 blade 6 times now. I am not happy with it at all. The performance is nowhere near that of the tp hustler. The holeshot is the same but mid and hi end are way better w/ the hustler. It also has a bad low rpm vibration. My hustler was an awesome prop. So after a lot of searching I finally found another one. I guess I learned my lesson.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Going to 4 blade??

Of course the props are at opposite ends of the spectrum of performance
seems a 14" prop was really needed to follow 4 blade procedure.
You must have lost a lot of top end The 4 blade is intended to provide low to mid range performance
and is expected to lose top end.
The 13 kind of robbed you of the ideal rpm range.
The Hustler is an al prop with the heart of a ss prop aimed at speed.
Really unusual for a 4 blade to have a vibration usually noted for smooth operation.